Texas - Boycott of the Cotton Patch Classic - Sept

Looks like it will most likely be ILLEGAL to attend the Cotton Patch Classic this year as the wise oracles in Greenville have passed a bike ban law amendment. This email was ripped from our team website. The email was sent to the President of one of the local cycling clubs in our area:

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Bike Ban
From: "William Forbis" <billforbis@verizon.net>
Date: Wed, May 9, 2007 3:40 pm
To: cmathews@planobicycle.org
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On Tuesday, May 8, the Greenville TX City Council voted to ban
bicycles from the sidewalks, curbs, and public parking lots of
downtown Greenville. This means that if you want to shop in
Greenville, you cannot lock your bike at the curb or building side or
in a parking lot. At a time when we are trying to get people out of
their gas guzzling vehicles, this is very obstructive and
restrictive. This policy even prohibits walking your bike in these
places, even though one councilman said you are “unlikely to be cited
for this activity”, until of course, you find a cop with an
attitude. And you will find a cop with an attitude in Greenville.
Because of this restricting attitude we are asking all bicyclers to
boycott the annual Greenville Cottonpatch Classic Bike Ride. If they
don’t want us to use their streets then we shouldn’t use them, at
all. If you wish to express your opinion for or against this ban you
can contact the City Mayor at toliver@ci,greenville.tx.us. Or the
city manager at brobinson@ci.greenville.tx.us. Or the Herald-Banner
at editor@heraldbanner.com. Details of the ban were carried in the
May 9 issue of the Herald Banner. The Greenville Chambers of
Commerce would also like to hear your opinion, cchambr@koyote.com.
Please pass this message on to all of your bicycling friends.
Thanks
Bill Forbis
Tawakoni, TX
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Stated in the email, he said 'streets'. I don't think there is a street ban. It's a ban on sidewalks-walking, parked or riding. Riding I can understand, sidewalks are for peds not bikes. Also parking lots are banned. SO if you plan to attend the CPC this year...plan to be arrested. According to this email IT IS ILLEGAL to have your bicycle in a parking lot, sidewalk or curb. Question is, will they bend their own rules in order to allow a nice MONEY GRAB for their little CPC event. Most likely. I'm with the emailer, providing he's not a troll. I've not found anything 'offical' about this ban but you can bet people are looking into it. If TRUE, we have a while to organize a nice boycott of the event.

That is all for now.

Or organize a bike-in where we ride up and down main street until we all get shackled and hauled away!

This can't be real, can it?

Wow, placing a partial ban on a group that, through a major event, provides funding for two of the towns largest non-profits (the YMCA and the Rotary). Might be a good idea to contact these two organizations, too.

http://www.heraldbanner.com/archivesearch/local_story_129010022.html

Link to article above. Seems they are trying to keeps skateboarders and kids on bikes off sidewalks and out of parking lots. Doubt they are going to ticket adult commuters, etc. Just my two cents. Perhaps a solution would be to contact the city manager to voice your concern and reccomend that the city install bike racks and signage to let cyclists know they are welcome.

Mayor Pro Tem Glen Steed said he was concerned that the amendment would appear to prohibit people from walking their bikes through public parking lots, although Council member Chris Bracken said it was unlikely anyone would be cited for the activity.

Correct, they are targeting skaters and the BMXers. However, once a law is enacted it can be enforced however they see fit. There is a way to deal with skaters. They have no further to look than Allen, Texas. Enacting stupid ordinances is no way to handle it. The Mayor Pro Tem has admitted to it. There is also talk on TXBRA.org about this matter.

Your biggest vote is the one with your wallet...boycott.

This is from Greenville City Secretary Debbie Newell-

This ordinance has been on the books since 1993- and yes, it only bans bikes and skateboards on SIDEWALKS, WALKWAYS AND CURBS- the only action the Council took on Tuesday as to amend the ordinance to include our entire downtown area, which we are better trying to define. I appreciate you clarifying this. The Cotton Patch classic is a great event for Greenville and our Main Street Area. We look forward to a bigger event this year. Please let me know if you have further questions.

Debbie Newell

The city of Plano has pretty much this same ordinance on its books for its downtown area. Hasn't really been much of an issue here either, just more of a safety enforcement practice. Like you say Doggus, riding a bike on a sidewalk isn't ever really all that safe to begin with. Downtown, where there are definitely going to be pedestrians moving about, it is dangerous.

Outlawing riding on the sidewalk is perfectly fine. When they ban the bike from being on the sidewalk is where they need to be careful with words. It should ok walking the bike, and parking the bike specifically.

"although Council member Chris Bracken said it was unlikely anyone would be cited for the activity. "
That's a great way to think of it. I doubt I'll get caught... LET'S DO IT!!!

In Greater Downtown Plano, my bike is fine. Parking, walking...I don't ride on the sidewalk. Should be the same anywhere...

By the way, has anybody tried wearing a spiked glove on the left hand, to keep the too-close cars away? I'm thinking that might be a good idea...some younger drivers get too close to me when I'm on the road.